Speak of the Devil

All this talk of layering cardigans, when added to the heady mid-summer sales, may just lead to your advantage...

Ewanika, a store I've loved and shopped at for years - but which I don't frequent as much as I used to because a) it moved a bit out of my circuit and b) I make most of my clothes these days - is having a terrific summer sale.  The website says up to 40 per cent off but I just got an email advising that today the price reductions are up to 50 per cent.

The accessories are particularly wonderful at this boutique and Trish, the owner and designer/manufacturer of many of the items stocked (though not knits), is a model of the modern fashion entrepreneur. The clothing is beautiful, well-made and the store is a delight.

This store does stock Ca Va de Soi. If you're in town, you can call to find out if any of the sweaters remain (and, if yes, make sure to confirm that they're included in the sale). Non-TO peeps: I'm not sure if Trish will ship sale garments but you might want to call and ask.

I, on the other hand, have to stay the hell away from every store in the universe. Seriously, it's austerity measures chez K. Mind you, at 50 per cent off, that slim cardi is gonna be affordable... :-)

Calling All Richies...

You may be intrigued to know that Holt Renfrew is having a 20% off sale on Theory "knit items" on April 17 and 18. In case you're in the market.

(BTW, Canadian friends, is this rather unheard of - Holt's advising about a sale ahead of time? Or haven't I been paying attention? Ah, the economy...)

Disappointment Is Free

Note to reader: In some hideous twist of fate my computer seems to be on its last legs - either that or my transformer is. So even though I have ideas a-brewin', I may not have any vehicle for distribution till I can get a new ____ (in a week or so) or coerce my husband out of his.

Nonetheless, onward and upward. (I feel vaguely like I'm rearranging deck chairs, but worse things have happened.)

What I want to tell you about, while I still can, is how truly unsavory the sales were today. I mean, I know the glory of Boxing Day has been on the wane for a few years now, ever since the market went to pre-Xmas sales. (Remember how you used to have to actually pay full price for your presents?) But really, I saw better deals in the 2 weeks before Christmas than I did today at a diverse cross-section of retail outlets.

And you know how Club M roped me in with its 75% off bullshit. Well, most everything I saw was a max of 20% off and most of the things there were far less $$ in my 30% off-30% off forays of early December. When I noted to an SA, that the sign proclaiming that the (admittedly divine) cashmere scarves were down from $109 was false - said scarves were only ever $99 at full price - he gave me some half-assed explanation and admitted that the sale was less than spectacular, esp. if you'd bought half the store up by Nov. 28.

Please, CM peeps. First your website blows and now you're dabbling in false advertising?! You know I love you but really...

But wait, there's an upside. Some places were truly packed out in my little town. M0851 was like Pearson Airport-on Xmas Day-crowded. There was not a pair of sale-priced men's gloves to be had anywhere. And, for all my shopping hopefulness - and hope-dashedness - I spent 30 bucks. And that was on fancy raw cheese from the fancy boutique grocery store in the chichi area. (30 bucks doesn't really get you that much cheese but my parents were arriving today and, as my husband is incapable of serving dinner before 7 pm (thanks for cooking, Sweetie!), I had to ply the 'rents with high-fat snack foods.)

OK, gotta sign off. Just wanna say, while shopping ennui is, well, filled with ennui, it sure is nice to the bank account. And check back for more posts. Because I intend to be picked up by the metaphoric Carpathia.

Peace out. K

What are you Waiting For??

Santa Baby!

Oh, this is good. So, gift-giving good!

Today, on a whim, though the guy at Rudsak advised that there were no more of the fab wallet I snagged on mega-sale a few days ago, I decided to return in the slim hopes that the SA could search another store for any spares floating in the system.

Turns out, the guy was looking in the wrong spot and there were actually 3 left (with boxes no less) languishing in a fancy stock drawer! And, since I put it out there to the Xmas giftie gods to send me a spare to give away over the hols, I felt it would be ungracious not to buy them all. Sometimes I am so hideous western consumer. But generous. :-)

So, if your name is Sandra, Allison or Mummy (mine only, sorry) - do not buy a wallet before Christmas.

One of Those Things

I went out at lunch the other day with a workmate, ostensibly so that she could pick up a new pair of buttery grey long gloves from Rudsak. Said gloves have a gorgeous fold-down mechanism with a kind of cuff-link clasp. (Can't find a pic, sorry.) Regrettably, the sizing wasn't right.

This was one occasion on which I had no intention of buying. I actually left my wallet behind (it being in such shabby shape) but brought along the Visa. Why, I couldn't say. But it was a fortuitous act, natch, because I found this lone, lovely chestnut brown wallet, formerly $100.00, on sale for $39.00.

And I think I just told you my current wallet is a tip.

If there had been another I would have bought both as a perfect Xmas giftie for one of my friends or my mum. Arguably, I should hold onto it for the coming present-exchange. Arguably, I shouldn't show photos of things I'm considering giving away. Thing is there's no arguing with me.

Hey Moms...

There are some great deals out there for your kiddies this week.

Specifically, H&M is having this 20% off sale (when you spend more than $50.00). Have you ever gone back to school shopping and not spent $50.00?? And they've got really sweet "lounge wear" i.e. yoga pants for kids and hip/happening track suits.

Payless, a truly awful, if affordable environment, is having a strange sale I can't exactly understand. The upshot is that I bought 2 pairs of runners for M and I saved 30% on each pair.

Gap Kids has some good sale items - like on backpacks and lunch boxes.

I was shocked by how much money I saved by getting into the fray a mere 5 minutes before the deadline of tomorrow's back to school. I'm usually so organized and I save bupkis. I say, power to the harried moms!